Our Christmas Filed under ( Appetizers, cheese, holiday food, onions, quick and easy, veggies )

The few days after Christmas is always a little bitter-sweet isn't it. You start boxing up your decorations, cleaning out your fridge and reminisce over Christmases past. We just barely cleaned up from Christmas, including vacuuming about ten pounds of dead pine needles. It feels good to have our house back to normal, but there's also a small emptiness it leaves behind.

We had such a lovely Christmas this year. Normally we go back to Idaho to spend it with family, but this year we stayed in Philly and kept things fairly quiet. I was a little homesick, but ultimately it was really nice not to have to travel and we got to establish traditions for our own little family.

Once of those traditions has always been to eat nothing but appetizers on Christmas Eve and watch Christmas movies until we go to bed. It's a lot of fun and adds to the excitement of the upcoming morning.

Since I was too excited to dig in, my pictures are less then blogworthy, but here's what we enjoyed Christmas Eve with the help of some friends...

Mini Caprese Skewers sitting in a layer of pesto, one of my favorite combos of all time!

I tried my hand at another cheese platter this year. Brie, Gouda and a very pungent Stilton made for a very delicious cheese platter, along with fruit and crackers. The Gouda was by far the crowd pleaser. This was actually my first time trying it and it just might be my new favorite cheese.

We also had a veggie tray, green olives, cured meats, a shrimp platter and a french onion dip with potato chips.
Gotta have chocolate chip cookies for Santa, they're his favorite ;)

Homemade baklava brought by our friends. It was so delicious that my husband ate some despite his pecan allergy. He said it was worth it.


Cream puffs, so easy to pop in my mouth, which is exactly what I did.

These were easily the star of the show. Baguette with Brie and caramelized onions. My friend brought these and I ate about four of them. The onions are sweet and the cheese is creamy, making these an almost dessert-like treat. With the extra Brie left in my fridge, I'm pretty sure I know what I'm doing for New Years!

There were also bacon wrapped scallops and water chestnuts, but I'm pretty sure they were eaten too quickly for pictures. And while I think I'm still full a week later from this feast, what are the holidays without good food right? I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season too, enjoy your last two days of 2010!

Best Of 2010 Filed under ( Celebrations, Festivals, Vacations )

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.  

So lets leave all the old bad memories back and cherish on the happy moments to come.
Feat to the eyes from 2010... 




Like birds, let us,
leave behind what we don’t need to carry,
GRUDGES SADNESS PAIN FEAR and REGRETS.
Life is beautiful, Enjoy it.



]

Keep the smile,
leave the tear,
Think of joy,
forget the fear,
Hold the laugh,
leave the pain,
Be joyous ,
Coz its new year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR

Good resolutions are simply checks
that men draw on a bank
where they have no account.
Happy New Year.

\

For  last year’s words belong to last year’s language

And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
Happy New Year 2011

Years come and go,
but this year I specially wish 4 u
a double dose of health n happiness
topped with loads of good fortune.
Have a great year ahead!
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!!!

2011 is at the door…
Remember
Life is short, break the rules,
Forgive quickly,
love truly,
laugh uncontrollably,
and
never regret anything that made you smile.

With all such New year Quotes and Wishes Its Me Aps Wishing u A Very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2011

A Very Bloggy Christmas Filed under ( bars, chocolate, Cookies, dessert, holiday food, mint, peanut butter )

Initially I didn't plan to do this, I was just going to start fresh for the new year. But I just don't feel right about letting these wonderful treats go without giving credit and thanks to the bloggers who posted them.

I basically found all of my baking and treat ideas from the blogosphere this year, and while I didn't get to make near as many things as I would have liked, what I did make turned out ah-mazing! Here are some of the reasons my pants no longer fit :)




I absolutely could not go an entire Christmas season without making my all time favorite Christmas cookie, the Peanut Butter Blossom! So quick and easy, and when I say easy, I mean easy to stuff about ten down my throat at once! I know this recipe isn't much of a secret, but I always visit my aunts cookie blog, Sugarbliss for the recipe every year. Thanks Rebecca!




I found this sweet Holiday Chex Mix on Cooking with Cristine. Look at those adorable homemade Santa hats! So simply made by dipping bugles into red or cherry chocolate, and then into white for the trim. This was a pretty and delicious treat to pass out to friends. Thanks Cristine!




When I found these Creme-de-Menthe bars on Joanne's blog, Eats Well with Others, my oven was still broken and I could barely stand to wait to make this. Rich chocolatey brownies, with a creamy, minty, butter cream center, and a shell-like chocolate finish to this brownies from heaven, made for a very happy Teresa. No one else in my family is big into the mint-chocolate combo (crazies!) so I ate half the pan, and the other half is in the freezer just biding their time until I decide to cheat on my New Year's diet. Oh Joanne, how I love these bars!





And last, but certainly not least, Peppermint Thumbprint Cookie Cups from Barbara Bakes. Okay, so I did cheat a bit by just adding kisses instead of "thumbprinting" them, but I guarantee that either way you make them, you'll love them! Thanks so much Barbara!

And thanks to Blogland for providing us with SO many Christmas goodies, stories and heartfelt wishes. Even if I didn't make your treats, rest assured I imagined their smells and tastes and enjoyed a bit of the season with you! Enjoy the rest of your break and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!!!!!! Filed under ( Celebrations, Festivals, Vacations )

Its Season Greetings to All My Lovely friends...
I know I am a kind of lazy in blogging and the reason is also genuine when Mom Cooks for u and u enjoy it the daughter obviously gets lazy :D
Being Studied in a Convent I know in detail how Christmas Is celebrated many memories to go with Christmas.. 
It is that time of the year again, when you are thankful for everything merry and bright. May this Christmas be a delight! Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

With The Lovely Wish I Promise to Come back again with something new.
Wishing All A great Holiday,

Orange & Coconut Marble Cake Filed under ( Cakes and Cookies, Festivals )

Dashing through the snow

In a one horse open sleigh

O'er the fields we go

Laughing all the way

Bells on bob tails ring

Making spirits bright

What fun it is to laugh and sing

A sleighing song tonight



Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh



A day or two ago

I thought I'd take a ride

And soon Miss Fanny Bright

Was seated by my side

The horse was lean and lank

Misfortune seemed his lot

We got into a drifted bank

And then we got upsot



Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh yeah



Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

Merry Christmas to al… May Lord bless u with lots of happiness and healt…nd Santa Gift u bundle of Joy.....



M missing my school days where we used to celebrate Christmas….. Sing Carols , decorate cribs ….have competitions Nd more of all m missing those sweets nd savories, cakes nd cookies frenz used to get ……… Awww I loved them …. Thanks to all who brought them and had fun together :).

Here is todays recipe which was there in my draft for pretty long time… I thought this wud be the right time to post a cake……

Here goes the recipe for Orange and Coconut Marble Cake….





I tried this out myself without following ne blog… just made it like the Marble cake.



We need



All purpose flour – 2 cups

Eggs – 3 ( instead of baking powder nd baking soda)

Orange Essence – 1 tsp

Orange Juice – 1/4th cup,

Water – ½ cup

Coconut milk – 1/4th cup

Butter – ½ cup

Powdered Sugar – 2 cup

Desiccated Coconut – 4-5 tbsp



Method:

Preheat oven for 375* F.

Cream butter until fluffy add eggs one by one and beat for 5 minutes on medium speed until fluffy.

Add powdered sugar and mix well.

Now add flour lil by lil and without forming lumps, water and beat for 5 minutes.

Now divide the batter into two equal portions and to one portion add orange juice and mix well.

For the other portion add coconut milk(shudn be much thick), desiccated coconut and mix well

Grease a round baking tin and pour the orange batter first and then the coconut batter and repeat the same until done … take a tooth pick nd just move it in the mixture….. and bake for 35 – 40 min or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Cool the cake for a while nd place it on a wire rack.

Cut into pieces.

Orange Coconut Marble Cake is ready to Serve.

Tastes Yum Yum when u add lozza love in it.



M hoping that U guys try it out nd tell me how it turned ... It was A super hit at my place :)

I m Sending this to RV's Event.... Food For Seven Stages In Love with DDPI(15-24yrs)

Zeebra's Hunt





Strawberry Cake

Vanilla Cake

Till My Next post,

Luv,

Happy Holidays! Filed under ( nonfood talky-talk )

This week I had such wonderful intentions of posting all of the beautiful baked goods that I had lovingly pulled from the oven, candle burning, Christmas tunes playing, it was going to be perfection. You gotta love good intentions.

So while I won't be leaving you with pictures of overflowing cookie platters as I hoped, I will leave you with the very warmest wishes for the holiday season. I adore this time of year, food, family, fun and friends, it doesn't get any better then that. Enjoy every minute of it and I'll SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!

Double Joy on 17th Decembe Filed under ( Anniversary, Sweets and Desserts )

Hey folks,

M sure all ya are doing gr8. Another weekend is done d all r waiting for the next one…… my weekend went on super…… this weekend was something spl to do…… double joy….. The first one is my Parents wedding anniversary nd next one is My Bday……

Yeh all heard it ryt….. the lady writing here was born on her parents Wedding anniversary…. December 17^th ….. Isn’t tht gr8…. I m a yr older now L…. Sometimes I feel Wish I cud be a kid….. free from tensions…..responsibilities…… But then I realize it can just be a thought…not reality… (m sure all might have been thinking the same).

It was not only my Bday it was Qatar National day too…… SO I can say the whole country celebrated my bday :P.

This yr my hubby dear made it much more spl by surprising me with a spl cake…… Not the regular cake but I can say Guru’s spl cake…. I was not allowed to come in the kitchen for half n hr …..…. :P….. The only thing I cud do is keep guessing whts going on in the kitchen……. Then he comes with a plate and surprises me wishing nd singing the bday song …. Tht was so sweet of him……. I was gifted a Samsung star……… Dinner at my fav chef’s restaurant… Sanjeev Kapoor’s Khazana….. nd a movie….. made my day very spl…. I cut 2 cakes one was vch was prepared by Guru (Rawa Cake topped with Blackberry yogurt ice cream) …. Nd other one was in Khazana … they made a Chocolate brownie topped vth ice cream…. Vch was tempting nd yummm…(not to forget tht was my hubby’s Idea …it was a surprise too )Of course U guys who wished me through orkut nd facebook , mails also made the day special…….and my best o best friend who cald me….. Thank U

Thank u Guru for making my day Super Special……..

I wished my parents too nd they had a gr8 time in mlore

This is the one which Guru prepared :)

Thank u Guru for making my day Super Special……..

I wished my parents too nd they had a gr8 time in mlore……… Love u Amma nd Anu…..I wish u ver with me that day.....

And about this cake recipe… lemme ask it with my chef: P nd post it soon....

Tastes Yum Yum when u add lozza love in it.

Till I write,